Crossland
voting machine



Oct. 10, 1967 E. J- CROSSLAND 3,346,177

'VOTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 EDWARD J.CRO'SSLAND Oct. 10, 1967 E. J. CROSSLAND 3,346,177

VOTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1966 FIG. 2 30 7 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R:EDWARD J. CROSSLAN ATT'YS Oct. 10, 1967 J CROSSLAND 3,346,177

VOTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG?) NEUTRAL I SELA mOOOOOOOOGOOO INVENTOR; EDWARD J. CROSSLAND Oct. 10,1967 E. J.CROSSLAND 3,346,177

VOTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1966 5 sheets-sneak EDWARD J. CROSSLANDATT'YS Oc 10, 96 E. .1. CROSSLAND VOTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDec. 16, 1966 INVENTOR:

NEUTRAUW KEY sen.

SEL a SEL c N L S T m M R Wm D (litan United States Patent 3,346,177VOTING MACHINE Edward .I. Grassland, Tulsa, ()kla, assignor toSeismograph Service Corporation, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of DelawareFiled Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 662,336 8 Claims. (Cl. 235-54) ABSACT OFTHE DISCLGSURE A voting machine employing selecting keys movable alongcolumns Within an ofiice group defined by office stops placed on thecolumns. The machine employs a scanning device movable along the columnsin one direction to actuate counters corresponding to the selectedpositions of the keys made by the voter and is movable in a reversedirection to restore all of the keys to their neutral positions on thecolumns after the vote is counted.

The present invention relates generally to voting machines and isparticularly concerned with improvements in light, easily transportable,relatively inexpensive voting machines of the general type disclosed andclaimed in United States Patent Nos. 3,095,142, 3,190,549, and3,221,988, all of which are assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention.

Voting machines of the type disclosed in the abovementioned patentsemploying a voting panel made up of a plurality of columns which aredivided into a number of rows representing a large number of selectingpositions. A number of rows in each column make up an ofiice group andone or more selectors or keys are mounted on the column for manualsliding movement within the office group between a neutral position andany of the various selecting positions. After the voter, has first movedthe selectors to the various selecting positions desired within theoilice groups and has then pressed a vote button or switch, a scanningdevice moves or sweeps along the rear of the panel in one direction tooperate counters in order to record the voters selections. The scanningdevice is moved in the reverse direction to restore all of the keys tothe neutral positions for the next voter.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a new andimproved voting machine of the type described.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a votingmachine of the character described including a new and improved scanningdevice for recording the voters selections and having improved means forrestoring the keys or selectors to their neutral positions after theselections have been made.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a votingmachine of the type described employing new and improved selectors orkeys for manual movement along the columns of the voting panel.

Still another object of the present invention is the pro vision of a newvoting machine which is more easily programmed for an election.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved voting machine with new and unique stops having a two-foldpurpose of limiting the travel of the selectors or keys along thecolumns and cooperating with the key restoring means of the scanningdevice during the key restoring sweep, thereby eliminating the need fordual rows of stops along the columns and, accordingly, simplifying theprogramming of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedmanual selectors or keys movable along the columns between selectingpositions and engageablc between spring detents positioned along thecolumns tioned patents, the spring detents 3,346,177 Patented Oct. 10,1967 for holding the selectors in said positions, said selectorsincluding means for preventing repetitive noise resulting from thesnapping action of the detents as said selectors are restored from thevarious selecting positions to their neutral positions.

The manner in which the foregoing objects of the present invention arerealized, together with further objects and advantages, will becomeevident from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a voting machinecharacterized by the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through several of thecolumns of the voting machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken substantially along line 33of FIG. 2 and ShOWs the scanning mechanism in the position which itoccupies during the vote counting sweep;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrates thescanning mechanism in position during the key restoring sweep;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 5;and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the new and improvedselector of the present invention in cooperative relation with a stopand key restoring mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare achieved by the provision of a new and improved voting machineincluding a plurality of columns, each having a number of stops thereondefining ofiice groups, each group containing a number of selectedpositions. At least one manually operable selector or key is mounted onthe column in each office group for sliding movement longitudinallyalong the column between a neutral position adjacent a stop and a numberof selecting positions. A plurality of spring detents are positionedalong the columns and adjacent pairs of these spring detents cooperateto maintain the selectors in the desired positions along the columns inthe neutral position or in one of the selecting positions. The votingmachine includes a scanning device movable along the rear of the columnsin one direction for simultaneously scanning the positions of theselectors on the columns and activating counter mechanisms to record theselections made. The scanning device is driven in a reverse direction toperform a key restoring sweep operation. For this purpose, the scanningdevice includes key restoring means biased into such positions that theyengage the selectors and lift them along the columns to the neutralpositions as the scanning device makes its key restoring sweep. As theselectors are returned to their respective neutral positions during therestoring cycle of the scanning device, the key restoring means engagescam means provided on'the stops, thereby to permit the scanning deviceand the key restoring means to pass the restored keys and continuemovement along the column in order to restore the selectors in all ofthe other oflice groups to their neutral positions. The voting machineis then ready for the next voter to make his selections by movement ofthe manually operable selectors. In the voting machines illustrated inthe aforemenfor holding the selectors in position along the columns weresubject to a snapping action as the keys weer moved from one position toanother. The snapping action of the keys oftentimes producedobjectionable noise, especially during movement of the keys to theirneutral positions during a restoring cycle of the scanning device. Thus,if a voter made all or a majority of his selections for candidates ofone political party, anyone listening to the key restoring operationcould, by counting the number of snaps of the detent springs, determinewhich party the voter had supported. In many instances, this was, ofcourse, objectionable. To overcome this problem, the selectors of thepresent invention include means for inhibiting or preventing such noiseas the keys are restored to their neutral positions.

Another improved feature of the present invention resides in theprovision of only a single row of stops for each column instead ofseparate rows of ofiice stop pins and key restoring actuator pins, asrequired in the voting machines shown in the aforementioned patents.This is made possible by the dual function of the stops of the presentinvention in limiting the travel of the selectors and in camming therestoring means out of engagement with the selectors when they reachtheir neutral positions during a key restoring sweep of the scanningdevice.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, one form of thevoting machine of the present invention is there identified generally bythe reference numeral 20 and comprises a substantially enclosed housing21 formed by a number of panels locked together in any suitable manner,as, for example, by means of interlocks as described in detail andclaimed in United States Patent No. 3,133,699, which is assigned to thesame assignee as the present invention. In the event that the votingmachine breaks down or if, for any other reason, access may be desiredto the interior of the housing 21, one or more of the panels may beremoved by unlocking the appropriate key operated lock or locks.Moreover, access may be had by the precinct officials to the rear of thevoting machine to read the counters after the election has beencompleted by unlocking and opening rear doors in the manner described inthe aforementioned United States Patent No. 3,133,699. In addition, apower panel door (not shown), located on the right side of the machine,as viewed in FIG. 1, may be unlocked and opened to permit connection ofan electrical cable to a remote voter classification unit (not shown),described and claimed in United States Patent No. 3,098,607, which isalso assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The housing 21 defines an upper, generally vertically extending votingpanel section identified by the reference numeral 24 and a lower powersupply section 25 extending forwardly from the upper section and forminga relatively low shelf 26 through which extends a manually operated VOTEswitch 27. The lower section of the housing beneath the shelf 26 mayalso contain a party vote mechanism (not shown) of the type describedand claimed in United States Patent No. 3,092,311. In certainjurisdictions, however, party voting is not permitted, and in such casesthe party vote mechanism is omitted. Since the present invention is notconcerned with the latter mechanism, the party vote facilities have notbeen shown in the drawings.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the selections madeby the voter are adapted to be recorded or registered upon counters 28detachably secured to a counter panel 29 (FIG. 2) located at the rear ofthe voting machine. After the election, the counter readings arerecorded by the precinct oificials on a tabulating sheet which is thentransported to a central counting or tabulation station where theresults of the election may be computed.

The voting machine includes a front face or voting panel 30 on the uppersection 24 made up of a plurality of side-by-side vertically extendingcolumns 30a, 30b, 300, etc. While only three vertical columns are shownin FIG. 1, it will be apparent that this is merely for illustration,since in actual practice any desired number of columns may be used. Asis best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, each of the columns 30!, 30b,30c, and 30d, etc. comprises an elongated member preferably formed of anextruded material, such as aluminum. The extrusion is such that eachcolumn comprises a central body portion 32 having an inwardly extending,longitudinal rib 33 adjacent a curved spring receiving region 31 lyingalongside the rib 33 and extending longitudinally of the column. Arelatively thick edge portion 34 extends longitudinally along one sideof the body portion while a transversely and longitudinally extendingflange or leg 35 is formed at the other side. A flange 36 extends alongthe entire length of the column at the rearwardly disposed end of theleg 35. A channel 37 formed by elongated recesses 38 and 39 respectivelyformed in the edge portion 34 and the leg 35 receives a printed orwritten candidate strip 40 containing different ofiices or propositionsto be decided by the voter. Thus, for example, if the election is anational election, this strip may contain an office title, such asPRESIDENT, and therebeneath may appear the different candidatescompeting for this office. The oflice title and candidates for theoffice will be referred to hereinafter as an office group. However, itshould be understood that the term office group may also refer topropositions on which a yes or no answer is required as, for example, onbond issues, constitutional amendments, or the like. Each of thecandidate positions or voting positions in an ofiice group will bereferred to hereinafter as a selecting position. Each of the channels 37may also receive a transparent cover 41 overlying the printed candidatestrip 40 for the purpose of preventing the latter strip from beingmarked or damaged by the voter using the machine.

A groove 43 is provided in the rear face of the body portion 32 forreceiving an elongated strip 42 having a series of vertically spacedopenings 42a therein accommodating office stops 44 which divide thedifferent ofiice groups of each column and which will be described indetail hereinafter. To facilitate insertion of the ofiice stops in theproper positions along the strip 42 during programming of the votingmachine to set it up for an election, there may be provided adjacent theperforations of each strip consecutive numbers running from top tobottom and corresponding to the different selecting positions along thecolumn.

The edge portions 34 are provided with an elongated, longitudinallyextending guide rail 47 lying adjacent a pair of grooves 46:: and 46bfor accommodating one or more voting keys or selectors 48 which areslidable along the column to permit the voter to make his selections.

To consider the operation of the voting machine of the presentinvention, let it be assumed that the column 3% contains two ofiicegroups, namely, an office group in which the voter must select betweencandidates A, B, C and D and a second ofiice group in which the votermust choose between candidates E, F, G and H. Let it be further assumedthat the voter is entitled to vote for only one of the four candidatesin'each office group. Thus, under these conditions, the candidate strip40 inserted into the receiving channel 37 of the column 3% will containa first office title 40a listing the title of the office for which thecandidates A, B, C and D are running and, in addition, will containbeneath this first ofiice title four selecting positions respectivelylisting the four different candidates. Below the first office group willbe a second office title 4% and four selecting positions listing thefour different candidates competing for the second office. A pair ofoffice stops 44 are inserted within appropriate openings 42arespectively disposed above and below the first office group with thebottom stop being provided at a position adjacent to and immediatelybelow the bottom selecting position containing the name of the candidateD. The upper stop lies above the selecting position for the candidate Aadjacent a neutral position alongside the office title 40a. A voting key48a is adapted to slide along the'column 30b between the two stops but,for reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds, thekey cannot pass either of the stops. The key may be manually moved bythe voter from the neutral or non-voting position located adjacent theupper stop to any one of the four selecting or voted positions withinthe first office group and as the key moves along the column an outerpointer or indicator 52 thereon passes over the candidate titles A, B, Cand D. When the key reaches the position of the candidate selected bythe voter, it is released. Since the voter is provided with only one keyfor the first oflice group, he may, of course, select only one of thefour candidates and, as a consequence, it is not necessary to provide aninterlock arrangement for preventing further voting in this oificegroup. A similar situation exists in the second office group of thecolumn 30b where a second voting selector or key 48b is mounted forsliding movement along the column between stops respectively locatedabove the oflice title 40b and below the candidate H. The number ofselecting positions available in each of the columns is, of course,determined solely by the height of the column and the space occupied byeach selecting position. Obviously, any suitable number of selectingpositions may be provided but in one form of the present inventionthirty such positions were used, although, to simplify the illustration,a lesser number is shown in FIG. 1. The selecting positions of thecolumns 30a, 30b, 300, etc., are horizontally aligned to form differenthorizontal rows on the front panel of the voting machine with each rowcorresponding to a transversely extending row of counter positions onthe counter panel 29. a

In cases where the voter is permitted to exercise more than one choicein a particular oflice group, as, for exam ple, in the upper oflicegroup of the column 300 shown in FIG. 1, several keys 48c and 48d may beprovided. In this office group, the voter is permitted to select betweenany two of six candidates I, J, K, L, M and N. The selection is, ofcourse, made by moving voting keys 48c and 48d from their neutralpositions adjacent the upper otfice stop above the oflice title 400 toselecting or voted positions adjacent the names of the candidatesselected, the movement of the two keys obviously being limited by alower stop below the candidate N. If cumulative voting is not permitted,the names of the candidates I, J, K, L, M and N will appear only onceand, hence, only one vote may be cast for any one candidate. However, ifcumulative voting is permissible, that is, if the voter may cast morethan one of his votes for a single candidate, then the names of thecandidates will be listed in each olfice group more than once, and ifthe voter so desires, he may cast both votes for his chosen candidate bymoving both of the voting keys 48c and 48d to positions respectivelyadjacent the two listings of that particular candidate. After the voterhas moved both of the keys 48c and 48d to a selecting position, hecannot, of course, cast additional votes for other candidates and,hence, overvoting is prevented without the use of elaborate interlocksbetween the voting keys.

The voting keys are held in the neutral and selecting positions bydetent means associated with the columns.

This detent means preferably takes rality of detents located one abovethe other within a longitudinally extending channel 33a formed in therib 33 with the detent being secured within this channel by a bent,somewhat J-shaped, resilient end portion 54 which snaps into the channel33a and holds the detent firmly in position. The detents are closelypacked within the channel 33a along its length in order to avoidmovement of the detents longitudinally of the column. Each detentincludes a laterally extending curved detent finger 55 the form of apluextending outwardly from a J-shaped end portion 54 with each fingercarrying at its outer end a key engaging portion 56 (FIG. 2). The curveddetent finger 55 lies along a concave curved portion 31 formed on theback side of the columns to provide a rigid backing for each detentfinger. Each of the key engaging portions 56 is bent to form a keyholding notch 57 (FIG. 5) between adjacent keys of the column. To thisend, each detent finger extends outwardly from the J-shaped end 54 for adistance such that its key engaging portion 56 is disposed in the pathof sliding movement of the voting keys 48 on the column. The detentfingers are normally flexed or biased to occupy the position shown inFIG. 2. When a voting key is slid along the column to move past a detentfinger, the finger is flexed rearwardly of the front panel 30 or to theleft, as viewed in FIG. 6, and if the key is stopped either at aselecting position or at a neutral position, it seats within one of thekey holding notches 57 between key holding portions 56 of adjacentdetents 55 and is thus resiliently held at the selected position withthe adjacent detent fingers holding the key being disposed in theirnon-flexed positions. To provide a detent for each selecting position onthe voting panel, the J- shaped end portion is of such height that thedetent fingers are vertically spaced apart to form the notches 57 whichare separated by a distance corresponding to the width of one of theselecting positions and the detent fingers 55 are so oriented withrespect to the stop receiving openings 42a in the strip 42 that when avoting key is in its neutral position seated against an office stop 44,it is also seated within a notch 57.

Turning now to the construction of the voting keys 48 and referringparticularly to FIG. 7 of the drawings, it will be observed that thekeys or selectors may comprise a generally rectangularly shaped bodymember having the pointer 52 referred to above extending laterallytherefrom to overlie the edge portion 34 of the column. The rail 47 onthe column extends loosely through a guide channel 58 formed in the key,with ribs 59 and 60 also formed on the key being respectively seatedwithin the grooves 46a and 46b of the column, thus permitting slidingmovement of the key longitudinally along the column but, at the sametime, prohibiting removal of the key by the voter and also limitinglateral key movement. A finger grip 61 extends forwardly from thepointer 52 to facilitate movement of the key by the voter. A slot orchannel 62 formed in one side of the key receives the flange 36 of theadjacent column, thereby to prevent the voter or anyone else frominserting a tool or other object through the slot formed betweenadjacent columns in an attempt to disrupt the operation of the machine.The voting key includes a curved detent engaging region 63 protrudingrearwardly from the body portion of the key and shaped to seat snuglywithin the notches 57 and also to flex the detent fingers 55 duringmovement of the key along the column. The rearward portion of the key isalso provided with a tooth 64 for use in restoring the key to itsneutral position after the vote is cast, as will be described in moredetail hereinafter. Finally, the rearward portion of the key is providedwith a curved surface portion 65 for engaging the counter actuatingmechanism described below during the vote sensing sweep of the scanningrail.

After the voter has made his selections upon the voting panel of themachine, his choices are adapted to be recorded or registered upon thecounters 28 mounted on the counter panel 29. The latter panel extendsalong the rear of the voting machine within the housing 21 and generallyparallel to the front panel 30 and is constructed as described in detailin United States Patent No. 3,108,744 assigned to the same assignee asthe present invention. As is described in the latter patent, the panel29 comprises a large, flat plate carrying a plurality of elongated,spaced apart and parallel, vertical ribs 71 defining a plurality ofcolumns 72a, 72b, etc., equal in number to the number of columns 30a,30b, etc., of the front panel 30 used for voting. As was indicatedabove, the panel 29 is adapted to support a plurality of the detachablecounters 28, one such counter being used for each voting or selectingposition employed for voting on the front panel 39. To this end, thepanel 29 has a number of counter receiving positions thereon forreceiving the counters and, prior to the election, counters areassembled on the panel only at receiving positions corresponding to thevoting or selecting positions to be used during the election. Nocounters are inserted at positions corresponding to the neutralpositions of the voting keys and none are mounted at positionscorresponding to the vacant positions on the front panel not used forthe election, thus economizing upon the number of counters required andminimizing both cost and weight. Along each column of the counter panelare provided pairs of holes 73a and 73b with the different pairs beingspaced apart vertically and with each pair being adapted to receive feet28a formed on each of the detachable plug-in counters 28. Each countermay be of the type described and claimed in United States Patent No.3,092,319, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and,as a result, these counters will not be described in detail. Each columnon the counter panel also includes an elongated vertical slot 74 formedin the plate 70 for accommodating counter operating ratchets 75 of allof the counters mounted along that column. Elongated detent springs 76are carried by the panel ribs 71 and each has a plurality of springfingers 77 cooperating with tabs 78 formed on opposite ends of thecounters to hold the counters in position, each counter being held byone pair of spring fingers. Each counter is inserted into position onthe counter panel by holding its casing at the top and bottom betweenthe thumb and forefinger and by then pushing the counter past the detentspring fingers 77 until the counter ratchet 75 extends through the slot'74 with the feet 28a fitting into one pair of the openings 73a and 73b.The 'detent spring fingers 77 snap over the tabs 78 to hold the counterin position.

As was previously indicated, the precinct ofiicials may read thecounters at the completion of the election by unlocking and opening therear doors in the manner described in detail in United States Patent No.3,133,699 referred to above. To facilitate the reading of the countersand to minimize the human errors involved in transferring the counterreadings to the tabulating sheets, each column on the counter panel 29is provided with a candidate sheet or strip 79 (FIG. 2) listing thedilferent candidates or issues appearing on the corresponding frontpanel column. Thus the name of each candidate or issue appears directlyalongside a window 80 in the casing of the particular counter used toregister the votes cast for that candidate or issue. As is shown in FIG.2, the printed strip 79 associated with each column on the counter panelis covered by a transparent strip 81 having its two side edges slippedinto grooves 82 and 83 formed in the sides of the panel ribs 71. Eachprinted strip 79 is held against its associated transparent strip 81 byteats 84 formed on the counter casing. The latter teats also preventmovement of the counter away from the counter panel and, hence, maintainthe counter operating ratchet 75 in position to be operated when thescanning mechanism is moved during the vote sending sweep.

The vote counting operation is initiated by the actuation of themanually operated VOTE switch 27 by the voter after he has completed hisselections. The switch 27 is effective to complete an electrical circuit(not shown but described in the above identified United States PatentNo. 3,098,607) to a series wound drive motor having its output shaftconnected through suitable reduction gearing and a shaft 88 to asprocket and chain arrangement 89 for driving a scanning mechanismindicated generally 'by the reference numeral 87. When the VOTE switch27 is operated, the scanning mechanism is located at the top of thevoting machine and, hence, it sweeps downwardly along the rear of thevoting panel in a vote sensing or vote counting direction until itreaches the bottom of the panel. The scanning mechanism 87 is movableupwardly after a vote scanning sweep on a restoring cycle, and thevoting keys 48 are all returned in a manner described in detail belowfrom their voting positions to their neutral positions so that thevoting machine is ready for use by the next voter.

The mechanical drive for the scanning mechanism 87 includes thehorizontal output shaft 88 extending along the bottom of the machine andcarrying a pair of sprockets at its opposite ends which are connectedwith the chain assembly 89 previously mentioned. Opposite ends of themechanism 87 are connected to the chains 89, and when the scanningmechanism completes its downward vote sensing sweep, a lower limitswitch is actuated by an arm carried in fixed position on one of thechains 89, at which time the current to the drive to the motor isinterrupted. The direction of motor rotation is then reversed and thescanning mechanism moves upwardly on a restoring sweep until reachingits original position at the top of the machine whereupon an upper limitswitch is engaged by another arm on the chain 89 to stop the motordrive. It should be apparent that by appropriate changes in design, thesensing sweep could begin at the bottom of the panel although in thiscase the voting keys would be in their neutral positions when they werelocated adjacent the lower stop of each oflice group.

The scanning mechanism 87 comprises a horizontal rail having its opposedends mounted for turning movement upon carriage assemblies carried bythe chains 89. The carriage assemblies are fixedly secured to the chainsand are guided for vertical movement Within suitable fixed guidechannels 98 provided along opposite sides of the voting machine housing21, as indicated at 98 in FIG. 2.

For the purpose of detecting the positions of the actuated or votedkeys, that is, the keys which have been moved from a neutral position toa voted position, and, for actuating those counters 28 corresponding tothe positions of the voted keys, the rail 95 carries a plurality ofspaced apart combined key wipers and counter actuating devices a, 105b,1050, there being one of these for each of the columns 30a, 30b, 30c,30d, etc. The devices 105a, 105b, etc., are identical and are describedin detail in the above-identified United States Patent No. 3,108,744.Each such device comprises an interposer arm 106 extending through atransverse bore 95a (FIG. 3) in the rail 95 and suspended upon thelatter rail for limited movement longitudinally of the bore by means ofleaf springs 107 and 108. More specifically, the rail 95 is formed by abar having a hexagonal cross section and the springs 107 and 108 arerespectively mounted upon diametrically opposed flat areas on the railperiphery. The spring 107 is secured at one end to the rail 95 by meansof screws 109 and at its other end seats within an annular, peripheralgroove 106a formed near one end of the interposer arm 106. The spring108 is supported upon a spacer block (not shown) and both the spring andthe block are secured to the rail in any suitable manner as, forexample, by means of screws 111. A square or rectangularly shapedopening formed near one end of the spring 107 accommodates a similarlyshaped area 112 (FIG. 3) of the interposer arm 106. The end of thespring 107 seats against an enlarged, generally rectangularly shapedhead 113 on the interposer arm 106 to provide a spring force cooperatingwith that of the spring 107 to normally bias or urge the arm 106 towardsthe left as viewed in FIG. 3. During the vote sensing sweep of thescanning rail 95, chamfered wiping end surfaces 113a (FIG. 3) of theheads 113 are positioned to engage the curved areas 65 on each of thevoting keys 48 in the associated columns 30a, 3011, etc. Thus, when thescanning mechanism 87 occupies the position shown in FIG. 3 and is moveddownwardly along the rear of the panel 30, the interposer arm 106 ismoved to the right each time that the wiping surface -113a engages .avoting key 48, the interposer arm being returned to the left by thesprings 107 and 108 as soon as the head 113 has moved past the key. Thedescribed movement of the arm 106 actuates the counters 28 because therearward end 106b of the arm is in engagealong the columns is limited toa ment with a counter actuating arm 115 having a hooked end 115a whichis adapted to engage and turn the ratchet 75 of any counter 28 locatedin a position on the panel 29 corresponding to the position of a votedkey. Each actuating arm 115 is mounted upon the outer end of a supportbracket 116 which is secured to one face of the rail 95 by a cap screw117.

For the purpose of actuating the difierent columns in accordance withthe voters classification, the voting machine of the present inventionmay include a classification lockout system as described in the UnitedStates Patent No. 3,190,549, and reference should be had to this patentfor a detailed description. Briefly, the lookout system includes meansengageable with the spring detents 55 of selected ofiice groups wherebythe voting keys are locked against movement out of their neutralposition. Accordingly, a voter not qualified for voting on certainmatters or issues is prevented from moving the keys in the oflice groupspertaining thereto, and the voter does not have the feeling that he hascheated by voting on issues on which he is unqualified since he cannoteven move these keys.

When the scanning rail 95 approaches the end of its vote detectingsweep, a rigid rail turning arm carried in fixed position on the railperiphery near one end of the rail engages a fixed lower stop mounted atthe bottom of the counter panel 29 so that the continued downwardmovement of the scanning mechanism is effective to turn the rail 60degrees in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG.3 to that shown in FIG. 4. The scanning rail is thus conditioned for theupward key restoring sweep.

When the rail is turned, the interposer arms 106 are all moved topositions where they cannot engage the voting keys during the upwardmovement of the rail but, at the same time, a plurality of key restoringdevices 127a, 12%, etc., one for each of the counter actuating devices105a, 105b, etc., are positioned to engage the tooth 64 on each votingkey 48 as the rail 95 is raised. One such key restoring device isprovided for each column containing voting keys and each such device iseffective to lift all of the voting keys in its associated column fromthe detent fingers 55 holding them in the voted positions and to slideeach key upwardly along the column until it is returned to its neutralposition where its upward movement is limited by one of the office stops44.

Each key restoring device 127a, 127b, etc., includes a key engaginglever 128 having one end pivotally mount ed on an L-shaped bracket 129which is secured to one of the flat faces of the rail 95. Each of thelevers 128 is mounted on a pivot pin 130, and the outer end of the leveris biased outwardly toward engagement with the teeth 64 of the selectorkeys 48 along the column by means of a biasing spring 131. The spring131 is supported on a pin 132 which is mounted on the L-shaped bracket129 and held in place on the pin by means of C-shaped spring washers133. One leg of the spring bears against a leg of the L-shaped bracketwhile the other leg extends through a hole in and protrudes beyond anintegral pin 134 formed on the lever 128 outwardly of the pivot pin 130.Outward movement of the lever 128 by the biasing spring 131 is limitedby means of a stop pin 135 carried on the L-shaped bracket 129. When thescanning rail 95 is moving downwardly during the vote scanning orcounting sweep, the outer ends of all of the levers 128 are maintainedwell clear of the keys 48, to avoid inadvertent key movement.

surfaces 123a and 12812 at the outer ends of each of the levers 128 areoriented to engage the teeth 64 on the respective keys.

As was mentioned previously, movement of the keys single ofiice group bya pair of ofiice stops 44a and 44b which are respectively 10 positionedabove and below each office group when the voting machine is programmedfor the election. The lower stop 44b in one ofiice group may act as anupper stop for the next lower ofiice group.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, each ofiice stop 44 includes arectangular base portion which is adapted to be mounted on theperforated strip 42 and to seat Within the groove 43 provided in thevoting panel columns 30. In order to position the base portion of eachofiice stop 44 along its associated strip 42, each stop includes a splitpin 141 (best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) adapted to snap into theperforations or holes 42a formed in the strip and thereby prevent thestop from moving after it is seated in a selected position along thestrip. Preferably, the stops 44 and split pins thereof are integrallyformed of flexible plastic material so that the pins will easily snapinto the holes 42a from the rear of the strips 42. When the votingmachine 20 is being programmed for an election, guard means normallyextending transversely across the tops of the columns 30a, 30b, etc.,are removed and the strips 42 are withdrawn upwardly from the grooves 43in the columns. The stops 44 are then snapped into position along thestrips 42 to divide each strip into the desired ofiice groups and thenthe strips with the stops in place thereon are moved downwardly in thecolumn recesses 43, and the guard means is then replaced along the topsof the columns to prevent vertical movement of the strips 42 and thestops 44 as the voting process takes place. As best shown in FIG. 2, thebases 140 of the stops 44 and the strips 42 are locked in the grooves 43of the columns against movement rearwardly of the voting panel by a pairof shoulders 43a formed along the back edges of the groove, and verticalmovement of the stops 44 on the strips 42 is prevented by engagement ofthe split pins 141 within the selected holes 42a in the strips. Thestrips 42 in turn are held against vertical sliding within the recesses43 by the guard means which are locked in place across the tops of thecolumns after the programming of the machine is completed.

The recesses or grooves 43 formed on the back faces of the columns 30are laterally offset from the channel flanges 36 which extend into theslots or recesses 62 of the selectors or keys 48 mounted on the columns,and in order to limit the travel of the keys vertically along thecolumns to positions within a single ofiice group, the upper and lowerstop members 44a and 44b defining each office group are provided withlaterally extending stop arms or projections 143 which, as best shown inFIG. 5, extend into the path traversed by the main rear body portions144 (FIGS. 2 and 7) of keys 48. The lateral stop arm 143 on the lowerstop 44b at the bottom of an ofiice group is adapted to engage theunderside of a key 48 when it is positioned in the lowest selectingposition within the ofi'ice group and prevent further downward travel ofthe key. This arm 143 also serves as an upper stop for limit ing upwardtravel of the key in the next adjacent lower ofiice group on the column.The lateral stop arm 143 on the upper stop 44a prevents a key 48 withinthe ofiice group below from being moved upwardly out of the ofiicegroup, and the arm also serves as a lower stop for the next adjacentupper ofiice group on the column. The selector keys 43 are formed withslotted out portions or recesses 144a above the teeth 64 in order toaccommodate the lateral stop arms 143 and permit the selector keys tooccupy any of the neutral or selecting positions within the ofiicegroup. Preferably, the lateral stop arms 143 on the stops 44- arestrengthened by triangular gussets 145 (FIG. 5) in order to preventshearing of the arms by movement of the keys against them.

In addition to the function of limiting the travel of the selector keys48 between neutral and selecting positions within a single ofiice groupdefined by the upper and lower ofiice stops 44a and 441), the ofiicestops are formed with a cam structure 146 extending rearwardly of thebase portion 140 for engagement with roller means on the outer ends ofthe restoring levers 128 to cam the levers momentarily out of engagementwith the teeth 64 on keys 48 during a key restoring cycle. Therearwardly extending cam structures 146 are similar in shape to the rearbody surfaces 65 of the selector keys 48 and are adapted to engagerollers 147 which are mounted adjacent the outer ends of the levers andlaterally offset with respect to the key engaging surfaces 128a and 12%.

During a key restoring cycle, as the scanning rail 95 travels upwardlyalong the back faces of the voting panel columns 30 (FIG. 4), the keyrestoring levers 128 are biased forwardly toward the voting panelcolumns by the springs 131 so that the end surfaces 128a and 1281)normally engage the teeth 64 on the keys to raise the keys toward theneutral positions as the rail moves upwardly. Aseach key is restored toits neutral position, the laterally oifset rollers 147 on the respectivelevers 128 simultaneously engage the cam strucures 146 on the officestops 44 and bias the outer end of the lever 128 rearwardly away fromthe voting panel against the force of the spring 131 and out ofengagement with the teeth 64 on the keys. This permits continuous upwardtravel of the scanning rail 95 without interference each time a key isreturned to its neutral position adjacent an upper oifice stop 44a.Because the cam structures 146 are similar in shape to key surfaces 65,the camming action on the lever arms 128 is just sufiicient to move thelever arms rearwardly to clear the teeth 64 of the keys. For example,referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, as the lever arm 128 of the scanning devicepasses upwardly from the next lower office group (not shown) to aposition adjacent the lower stop 44b (which also serves as an upper stopfor the next lower office group) the arm is momentarily cammed outwardlyby the cam structure 146 away from the uppermost key in the lower officegroup (which has just been returned to the neutral position), and thenthe lever is again moved inwardly by the spring 131 upon passing the camstructure. The key engaging surfaces 128a and 12% engage the undersideof the tooth structure 64 on the key 48d (shown in dotted linesoccupying the lowest selecting position) and move the key upwardly. Asthe key 480. is moved upwardly in the office group and reaches itsneutral position, it engages the lateral arm 143 on an upper ofiice stop44a and further upward travel of the key is prevented. As this occurs,the cam structure 146 on the upper stop 44a is engaged by the cam roller147 on the leverarm, and the surfaces 128a and 1281) are moved out ofengagement with the tooth 64 on the key permitting continued upwardmovement of the scanning rail 95. The cam structures 146 on the stops44function to move the arms 128 out of engagement with the keys as theyare restored to the neutral position, and thus permit continuous upwardtravel of the scanning rail 95 without interference from the keys asthey reach their neutral positions. After passing the upper stop 44a,the lever arm 128 is again permitted to move inwardly toward engagementwith the key or keys in the next office group and, in this manner,through the cooperating action of the stops 44, keys 48, and keyrestoring device 87 all of the keys are returned to their neutralpositions by the time the scanning rai-l has completed its upward travelduring a restoring sweep. I

When an office group has more than one selector key therein, such as theoflice group illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, it is necessary toprovide an intermediate office stop 44c for each additional selector keyused within the group. The intermediate stop 440 is similar to the upperand lower stops 44a and 44b but does not include a lateral stop arm 143or gusset 145. The intermediate stop 440 is positioned directly belowthe upper office stop 44a in the office group (adjacent the neutralposition of the second or lower key 4801) and because there is nolateral stop arm 143 on the intermediate stop it does not interfere withthe movement of the upper key 48c between its 12 neutral position andany of the selecting positions in the group.

During a restoring operation, the lever 128 engages the lowest key 48din the group and carries it upwardly until the lower key engages theupper key 480. Both keys are then moved in unison to their respectiveneutral positions adjacent the upper end of the ofiice group. As thekeys arrive simultaneously at the upper neutral positions, the camsurface 146 on the intermediate stop 440 is engaged by the roller 147 onthe key restoring lever arm 128 moving the arm out of engagement withthe tooth 64 on the lower key 48d. The cam surface 146 on the upper stop44a likewise keeps the lever arm from engaging the upper key 480 and,accordingly, permits the scanning rail to continue smoothly upward onits key restoring sweep.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate another aspect of the present inventionconstituting an improvement over revious voting machines of the samegeneral type. Each selector key 48 mounted on the columns 30 is held inany of the neutral or selecting positions by the engagement of theportions 56 of adjacent spring detent fingers 55 with the surface 63 onthe key. As the key is moved longitudinally along the columns, thespring detent portions 56 are biased rearwardly away from the back sideof the voting panel to a position represented by the dashed line AA inFIG. 6 wherein the rearwardmost portion of the key surface 63 is clearof the spring. Rapid movement of the keys during a key restoring cyclesometimes permits the spring detent portions 56 to snap back to anoriginal non-key engaging position (represented by the line BB) afterthe key has passed, and this oftentimes causes an objectionable noise orclicking sound which can sometimes be heard by voters in the pollingplace.

In order to overcome this difiiculty, each key 48 (FIG. 7) is provided.with a downwardly extending tang or tongue 150 having a sloping edgesurface 150a adapted to engage and maintain contact with the portions 56of the spring detent fingers adjacent thereto after the body surface 63of the key has moved to the next adjacent position. The tongue 150protrudes downwardly from the lower portion of the detent engaging bodysurface 63 of the key, and the slope of the edge 150a is somewhat moregentle or gradual than the slope of the lower portion of the key surface63 so that the key engaging portions 56 of the spring detents 55 cannotsnap back to the non-key engaging positions adjacent line B-B (FIG. 5)after passage of the keys. The edge 150a of the key tongues actuallymaintain the adjacent spring detent portions 56 along an intermediateline C-C (FIG. 5) while directly engaged therewith and do not permit thespring detent to return to a non-key engaging position along line B--Buntil the keys are above or below the springs involved.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the keys 48c and 48d are moved upwardlyalong thecolumns during a restoring operation to their neutralpositions, the upper sloping surface of the spring detent engaging bodysurfaces 63 of the keys first engage the portions 56 of the springdetent members and move them outwardly from the non-key engagingposition (line BB) to a position along line AA. As upward movement ofthe key continues, the spring detent portions 56 engage the lowerinwardly sloping portions of the key surface 63 and the spring detentfingers are permitted to move inwardly to the position along theintermediate line C C. From this position, the spring detent portions 56engage the gently inwardly sloping edge 150a of the key tongue and thusare permitted to return inwardly to their non-key. engaging position(line BB) at a much slower rate and snapping action is prevented eventhrough the keys are moved upwardly at a fairly rapid rate.

In order to permit two keys within a single otfice group tosimultaneously occupy adjacent positions without interferen'ce becauseof the projecting tongues 150, each key includes a tongue receivingrecess 151 formed on the upper side of the portion 63 to accommodate thetongue of the next adjacent upper key. Because manual movement of thekeys by the voter during voting is generally slower than the movement ofthe keys during a restoring cycle of the scanning device 87, snappingnoise of the spring detent is not a problem and, accordingly, the keysare provided only with a downwardly extending tongue. It is to beunderstood, however, that upwardly extending tongues and accommodatingrecesses on the underside of the key portions 63 could be provided ifrequired, in accordance with the present invention. In such an instance,the upwardly and downwardly extending tongues would be laterally offsetfrom one another (FIG. and the accommodating tongue recesses would belaterally offset in a reverse direction.

The voting machine 20 of the present invention thus provides unique andsimplified means for restoring the key after a voter has made hisselections and eliminates objectionable noise as the restoring cycleprogresses.

While the present invention has been described in connection with thedetails of a particular embodiment thereof, it should be understood thatthese details are not intended to be limitative of the invention, sincemany modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in this artand it is, therefore, contemplated in the accompanying claims to coverany such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a voting machine, the combination of means including a pluralityof columns each having a number of stops thereon defining at least oneofiice group and each ofiice group containing a number of selectingpositions; manually operable selectors, at least one for each officegroup, mounted upon the columns and slidable longitudinally thereofbetween a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to one of severalselecting positions whereby the voter makes his selections; a scanningdevice, means for moving said scanning device along said columns in onedirection for simultaneously scanning all of said columns to determinewhich of said selectors have been moved to a selecting position and formoving said scanning device along said columns in a reverse direction, aplurality of restoring means on said scanning device positioned forengagement with said selectors to restore them to their neutralpositions during the movement in said reverse direction, said stopsincluding cam means for moving each of said restoring means to permit itto pass each of the selectors after the latter have been returned to aneutral position.

2. The voting machine of claim 1 wherein said scanning device includes asupport member extending transversely of said columns, said restoringmeans including a plurality of restoring arms pivotally mounted on saidsupport member and each having a portion biased toward engagement withthe selectors mounted on one of the columns.

3. The voting machine of claim 2 wherein said stops are removablysecured in a single line along said column laterally offset from saidselectors, said stops including laterally extending arm means engageablewith said selectors for restricting the movement thereof along saidcolumns between the neutral and selecting positions of a single oflicegroup.

4. The voting machine of claim 2 wherein the outer ends of saidrestoring arms are engageable with said cam means of said stops and aremoved by said cam means, as said scanning device is moved in saidreverse direction along said columns.

5. In a voting machine the combination of means defining a plurality ofcolumns, each having a number of stops thereon defining at least oneofiice group and each ofiice group containing a number of selectingpositions; manually operable selectors having oppositely sloping 14 camsurfaces thereon, at least one selector for each office group, mountedupon each column for longitudinal sliding movement thereon between aneutral position adjacent one of said stops to One of said selectingpositions, and a plurality of detent means disposed along each of saidcolumns for holding said selectors in said neutral and selectingpositions, adjacent detent means along said column having end portionscooperating with said oppositely sloping cam surfaces to hold a selectorin position along said column, each selector including a recess and aprojecting tongue with the tongue of one selector adapted to extend intothe recess of a selector disposed in a position next adjacent thereto,said tongue including a sloped surface extending outwardly of one ofsaid sloping cam surfaces to engage the end portions of said detentmeans and prevent the latter from seating against said one cam surfacewhen said selector is centered in a selecting or neutral position alongsaid column.

6. In a voting machine, the combination of means including a column andat least one manually operable selector mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement on said column between a neutral position and a plurality ofselecting positions, and a plurality of detent means along said column,adjacent detent means including defiectable outer end portionscooperating to engage a selector and hold it in its neutral andselecting positions along said column, said selector including a pair ofoppositely sloping cam surfaces thereon adapted to engage and deflectsaid outer end portions of said detent means from a holding position toa passing position as said selector is moved along said column, andmeans on said selector adjacent one of said cam surfaces for preventingthe return of said end portions from said passing position to saidholding position until said selector is moved along said column to anext adjacent position thereon.

7. In a voting machine having at least one longitudinal column havingmeans thereon defining an ofiice group with at least one neutralposition and a plurality of selecting positions therein, at least onemanually operable selector mounted on said column for longitudinalmovement between said neutral and selecting positions, a plurality ofspring detents along said columns yieldingly engaging said selector tohold said selector in any one of said positions in said ofi'ice groupand permit movement of said selector to any other position therein, stopmeans spaced longitudinally along said column including means engageablewith said selector for preventing movement thereof outside of saidotfice group, and selector restorer means movable along said column inone direction for returning said selectors to the neutral positions insaid oflice group, said restorer means including pawl means normallybiased to engage and move said selectors in said one direction to saidneutral position, said stops including means for biasing said pawl meansout of engage-' ment with said selectors when said restorer means movespast said neutral positions.

8. The voting machine of claim 7 wherein adjacent pairs of said springdetents cooperate to hold said selectors in any of the positions withinsaid ofiice groups, and wherein said selector means includes aprojection for moving one of said spring detents in an adjacent pair outof a holding position with respect to a selector adjacent thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,108,744 10/1963 Crossland etal. 235-54 3,118,598 1/1964 Laws 23554 3,221,988 12/1965 Crossland etal. 235.54

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. STANLEY WAL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A VOTING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITYOF COLUMNS EACH HAVING A NUMBER OF STOPS THEREON DEFINING AT LEAST ONEOFFICE GROUP AND EACH OFFICE GROUP CONTAINING A NUMBER OF SELECTINGPOSITIONS; MANUALLY OPERABLE SELECTORS, AT LEAST ONE FOR EACH OFFICEGROUP, MOUNTED UPON THE COLUMNS AND SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY THEREOFBETWEEN A NEUTRAL POSITION ADJACENT ONE OF SAID STOPS TO ONE OF SEVERALSELECTING POSITIONS WHEREBY THE VOTOR MAKES HIS SELECTIONS; A SCANNINGDEVICE, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SCANNING DEVICE ALONG SAID COLUMNS IN ONEDIRECTION FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SCANNING ALL OF SAID COLUMNS TO DETERMINEWHICH OF SAID SELECTORS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A SELECTING POSITION AND FORMOVING SAID SCANNING DEVICE ALONG SAID COLUMNS IN A REVERSE DIRECTION, APLURALITY OF RESTORING MEANS ON SAID SCANNING DEVICE POSITIONED FORENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SELECTORS TO RESTORE THEM TO THEIR NEUTRALPOSITIONS DURING THE MOVEMENT IN SAID REVERSE DIRECTION, SAID STOPSINCLUDING CAM MEANS FOR MOVING EACH OF SAID RESTORING MEANS TO PERMIT ITTO PASS EACH OF THE SELECTORS AFTER THE LATTER HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO ANEUTRAL POSITION.